Most of the students in our class with identified disabilities come in with some sort of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). SPD is the inability to process sensory stimuli efficiently. We have seven sensory processing modalities. Visual, auditory, olfactory (smell), tactile, gustatory (taste), vestibular (balance), and proprioceptive (muscle coordination). When you see a student who has a variation of SPD whether they have autism or are developmentally delayed, you can see that everyday aspects that would be ignored such as a schedule change, florescent lights, box fans from furnaces or computers, are magnified and cause detrimental effects to children. Children who are affected by sensory processing issues, especially those at a young age, do not know how to communicate that there is something causing them to become agitated, confused, or lost so that translates into certain behaviors that can cause harm to themselves or others.
The materials on my wish list either create an environment that prevents certain sensory triggers or helps students center themselves so that calming strategies can be taught. The fluorescent light covers not only lessen the harshness of the glow and flickering that occurs. Students with processing disorders in rooms with fluorescent lights will have repetitive behaviors 6 times more than those in incandescent lighting. I am also asking for weighted lap and shoulder pads. These help calm students who have proprioceptive sensory needs. Visual timers also help calm those who have visual sensory needs. Chewies and chewlery help those with gustatory needs. Fidgets and theraputty help students calm themselves or help those focus during instruction.
All of these sensory items will be used to help those students meet sensory needs to help them become more emotionally centered children which will help them gain the most from early intervention.
About my class
Most of the students in our class with identified disabilities come in with some sort of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). SPD is the inability to process sensory stimuli efficiently. We have seven sensory processing modalities. Visual, auditory, olfactory (smell), tactile, gustatory (taste), vestibular (balance), and proprioceptive (muscle coordination). When you see a student who has a variation of SPD whether they have autism or are developmentally delayed, you can see that everyday aspects that would be ignored such as a schedule change, florescent lights, box fans from furnaces or computers, are magnified and cause detrimental effects to children. Children who are affected by sensory processing issues, especially those at a young age, do not know how to communicate that there is something causing them to become agitated, confused, or lost so that translates into certain behaviors that can cause harm to themselves or others.
The materials on my wish list either create an environment that prevents certain sensory triggers or helps students center themselves so that calming strategies can be taught. The fluorescent light covers not only lessen the harshness of the glow and flickering that occurs. Students with processing disorders in rooms with fluorescent lights will have repetitive behaviors 6 times more than those in incandescent lighting. I am also asking for weighted lap and shoulder pads. These help calm students who have proprioceptive sensory needs. Visual timers also help calm those who have visual sensory needs. Chewies and chewlery help those with gustatory needs. Fidgets and theraputty help students calm themselves or help those focus during instruction.
All of these sensory items will be used to help those students meet sensory needs to help them become more emotionally centered children which will help them gain the most from early intervention.
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